Improvement in reed-organ tremolos



L. ILFUUER. Reed 0rgan Tremdlos.

Patehted March 2} 1875.

INVE NTOR WITNE'S SE s:

W i am/am.

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHOT0rLITH-39&4-1PARK PLAGLN.

Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI K. FULLER, OF BRATTLEBOROUGH, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO J. ESTEY & G0,,QF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REED-ORGAN TRENlOLOS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 60,316, dated March2, 1875; application filed December 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI K. FULLER, of Brattleborough, in the county ofWindham, in the State of Vermont, have invented certain Improvements inReed-Organs, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction andarrangement of the tremolo attachment with respect to the reeds in areed-organ; and consists in the interposition of a screen or shadepartially inclosing the tremolofan, and provided with a swell, betweenthe said fan and the reed-cells, the latter being provided with theordinary swell in the usual manner, and both operated preferably by theknee of the player.

In the drawing, the figure is a transverse section through the reed-celland tremolo-fan ofa reed-organ, showing my improvements therein.

In the usual construction and arrangement of the tremolofan no means areprovided for varying its action upon the reeds aside from the ordinaryswell.

For illustrating my improvement, A is a reed-board; B, areed-cell; a, areed, and O a swell, all constructed and arranged in the usual manner.These features form no part of my invention in themselves, but only intheir relation to other elements, which 1 will now describe. D is atre1nolo-fan of the usual kind, connected with and deriving motion froma motor-wheel in the case E. F is a screen or shade, which partiallysurrounds the fan D on the side adjoining the reed'cells, substantiallyas represented. Tothe lower edge of this shade, and forming acontinuation thereof, is hinged a swell, G, which, when closed, isinterposed between the tremolo and the reeds a, thus intercepting thetone from the reeds, either wholly or in part, as may be desired. Theshade F and swell G extend lengthwise of the reed-board as far asdesired, and the former has end boards H, in which the tremolo-fan hasbearings. The swell G closes automatically by means of a spring, 0, inthe usual manner, and is operated, together with the swell G, by theknee of the player, in the ordinary way. A bar, I, serves to connect thetwo swells O and G, so that both may be operated simultaneously by thesame mechanism. The dotted lines in the figure indicate the positions ofthe swells O and G when open.

It will be readily understood that when the swell G is gradually openedby the player a crescendo tremolo effect will be produced upon thereeds, a reverse operation producing a diminuendo, thus addingmaterially to the range of expression under the control of the player.

The precise method of operating the swell G is not important, and I haveshown no device for that purpose. I prefer, however, that it should beconnected with the ordinary knee swell lever in the usual way.

I claim as my invention- 1. The shade E, provided with a swell, G,constructed and arranged so as to be interposed between the tremolo-fanD and the reedcells B, substantially in the manner shown, and for thepurposes set forth.

2. The shade F, having its sectional contour wholly or partially curvedconcentric with the tremolo-fan D, when the said shade is provided witha swell, G, hinged thereto, and arranged to wholly or partiallyintercept the sound or tone on its way from the reedcells to thetremolo-fan, substantially in the manner shown, and for the purposesspecified.

3. The combination of the tremolo-fan D and shade F, provided with aswell, G, attached thereto, with the reed-cells B, reeds a, andreedswell 0, all arranged to operate in conjunction with each other inthe manner substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LEVI K. FULLER.

Witnesses:

L. W. HAWLEY, J. E. TILSON.

